Sheng Tang: What is Liu Jianjun going to do today?

Chapter 64 I treated you like a brother, and you actually wanted to be my dad.

Li Guangshun is really too disobedient.

He had clearly invited his wife and children into the manor, so how could he still be standing outside the gates of the Prince's manor?
Li Guangshun was summoned back in, and Li Xian returned to the inner garden with his wife and children.

……

After not seeing her for over a month, Li Xian looked at the embroiderer and had so much to say.

Li Xian told Li Guangshun and the others to choose their own bedrooms first. When only Xiu Niang and he were left in the room, he went up to Xiu Niang, took her hand, and said affectionately, "Xiu Niang, you've lost some weight."

Holding the embroiderer in his arms, Li Xian recounted with satisfaction the events that had transpired in Chang'an during this time.

He remembered Liu Jianjun's instructions, so he did not tell Xiu Niang about the two men's plan to seize Da Bao.

It wasn't for the sake of secrecy or anything; I just didn't want the embroiderer to worry.

After a long while, the embroiderer finally looked up from Li Xian's arms, her eyes full of satisfaction: "Your Highness, you and the new emperor have been friends since childhood. Now that His Majesty has ascended the throne, he will surely take good care of you. Our family will finally have peace of mind from now on!"

Then she began her usual nagging: "Your Highness, please tell Jianjun that Chang'an is not like Bazhou. He should no longer call His Majesty 'Xianzi'. It's fine for us family members, but if outsiders hear it, it will cause him trouble."

"You just said that Brother Jianjun spends his days in places of pleasure and debauchery. Is he thinking of getting married?"
"Your Highness has now been restored to the title of Prince of Pei, and your status is noble. If Brother Jianjun really takes a fancy to a girl, why don't I go and propose marriage to her?"
"It's just that Changxin has suffered. This girl kept calling out 'Brother Jianjun' on the way here."

"The people of Liujiazhuang are very kind. After Your Highness and Brother Jianjun came to Chang'an, they treated my mother and me kindly. Qiu Shenji has also never sent anyone to bother us again."

"It seems that Liu, the village head, knew His Highness's identity. On the day His Highness left, he came to Liu Jianjun's house to pay respects to my mother and me. He seemed to want to kneel down, but he was at a loss. He looked like an honest and simple farmer."

"Liu Jianjun's second uncle and aunt are also very kind. Although they know His Highness's identity, they still treat us the same as before. It's just that his second aunt seems a bit reserved and doesn't speak as loudly anymore. Liu Jianjun's second uncle even secretly thanked us for this..."

Li Xian held the embroiderer in his arms and listened quietly to her story.

He had been looking forward to this day for a long time.

“My wise son…”

Suddenly, Liu Jianjun's shouts came from outside, followed by a flurry of footsteps.

The next moment, Li Xian saw Liu Jianjun appear at the door.

The moment Liu Jianjun entered the room, he saw the embroiderer in his arms.

Then he gave an awkward laugh, made a move to leave the room, and called out, "Um, sister-in-law, you and Xianzi can continue, just pretend I wasn't here..."

Li Xian released the embroiderer and chuckled at Liu Jianjun, saying, "Alright, the embroiderer has seen your impulsive ways before!"

The embroiderer stood gracefully to one side, smiling as she greeted Liu Jianjun: "Brother Jianjun, have you read your second uncle's letter? The servants have already brought the toon tree cakes he asked me to bring into the mansion, and I'll have them deliver them to your room."

"No rush, we're already in Chang'an, who's going to eat that stuff now!"

Liu Jianjun chuckled, stepped into the room, and said in a carefree manner, "Liu Laosan has gotten too cocky. He heard that I've made something of myself in Chang'an and thinks it's because of my good name. He insists on changing Er Gou's name to something like Liu Jianguo. Isn't that older than me?!"

But his expression was full of longing for his second uncle and aunt.

When the embroiderer saw Liu Jianjun enter, she knew that he had something to say to Li Xian, so she stood up tactfully and said, "Your Highness, you and Brother Jianjun can talk. I'll go check on Changxin and the others."

He then casually left the room.

Liu Jianjun then sat down next to Li Xian, watching the embroiderer's departing figure and sighing, "See! My sister-in-law is the kind of person who can manage a household! She's smart, well-educated, and virtuous!"

Li Xian said to him irritably, "Knowing that, why did you still come to disturb my reunion with your sister-in-law?"

"Hehe, I was just thinking that the time is almost up, and that woman Shangguan Wan'er will probably come knocking on our door in a few days. But my sister-in-law and the others have just returned to the Prince's Mansion, so I'm telling you in advance. You'll have to find a way to get my sister-in-law away. I need to deal with that woman Shangguan Wan'er!" Li Xian was taken aback: "You mean the Empress Dowager is going to win over Li Xian?"

He still remembered the bet between Liu Jianjun and Shangguan Wan'er. It was only after his mother had a clear advantage that she sent Shangguan Wan'er to the Prince of Pei's residence to find him.

"Otherwise what? The situation isn't clear yet."

"But... how come I didn't notice? The Li clan members have received quite a few rewards these days, and the Prince's Mansion even sent a large sum of silver a couple of days ago..."

Before Li Xian could finish speaking, Liu Jianjun interrupted him: "You think those things were a reward from Xianzi?"

“No…isn’t that right?” Li Xian asked, looking puzzled.

"Come on! Xianzi is still in mourning right now!"

Liu Jianjun rolled his eyes and explained, "These things were all arranged by your mother! She is now exercising the power of a regent, and in order to silence those in court who oppose her, she naturally has to treat and win over the Li clan!"
"After all, this country belongs to the Li family. As long as the members of the Li clan don't say anything, those who oppose her naturally won't be able to say anything either!"
"This is the first move your mother, that old woman, made to seize power!"

"If Shangguan Wan'er were smart enough, she should be able to see by now that Xianzi is doomed to lose!"

Li Xian fell silent for a moment.

So... that's how it is?
"When Shangguan Wan'er arrives, I'll have the embroiderers and the others go to Shengpingfang to buy some snacks. They love shopping in Shengpingfang, so they won't suspect anything," Li Xian nodded in agreement.

"That's good. Then there's nothing else. When I get back, I'll bring you some of those toon tree cakes that Liu Laosan brought. They're not very tasty, but I've been craving them for so long..."

With that, Liu Jianjun prepared to get up and leave.

But Li Xian suddenly thought of Changxin, so he hurriedly asked, "Liu Jianjun, do you have feelings for Shangguan Wan'er?"

Liu Jianjun paused for a moment, then nodded: "Didn't I tell you last time that I like that woman's personality? What's wrong?"

"So... now that Shangguan Wan'er is here, are you planning to continue using your... honey trap?"

Liu Jianjun frowned and walked back to sit down next to Li Xian.

Then he placed his palm on Li Xian's forehead, looking puzzled: "Xianzi, are you alright? In our current situation, besides me sacrificing my looks to get Shangguan Wan'er onto our pirate ship, what other way is there to ensure she won't betray us again?"

"Let me tell you, don't try to be all sentimental with me at this crucial moment!"

Li Xian irritably shook off his hand and said, "What nonsense are you thinking! I've never interfered in your affairs!"

Liu Jianjun nodded in relief and asked, "Then what do you mean by asking that?"

Li Xian thought about Changxin and felt that although Liu Jianjun was a few years older than Changxin now, when Changxin came of age, Liu Jianjun would still be a young man in his prime, and the two would still be a good match.

So he tentatively asked, "Liu Jianjun, what do you think of Changxin?"

"She's such a good girl, such a well-behaved and sensible little girl..."

Liu Jianjun stopped mid-sentence, staring wide-eyed at Li Xian as if he had seen a ghost.

"No... Xianzi, I treat you like a brother, and you actually want to be my dad?!"

……

　① The term "ba" first appeared in the "Guangya·Shiqin" (written during the Taihe period of Emperor Ming of Wei in the Three Kingdoms period): "Ba means father."

　　Therefore, Li Xian was able to understand the meaning of "Dad".

　　
　
(End of this chapter)